The UK Royal Air Force will close its last remaining base in Germany by 2002, as part of its restructuring programme aimed at cutting costs and preparing for the Joint Force 2000 plan to further integrate RAF and Royal Navy air operations.
The RAF still maintains bases at Laarbruch in Rheinland and Brüggen on the Dutch border. Laarbruch is scheduled to close by the end of 1999, with Brüggen shutting down three years later. According to the RAF, the closure plans are part of the recent Strategic Defence Review aimed at creating joint service rapid reaction forces for international operations.
"This is part and parcel of the move away from a Cold War-style armed forces structure and towards a rapid reaction-type force," RAF sources say. Flight International understands that German low flying restrictions were also a factor.
Germany has generally banned flights below 1,000ft (300m) since 1991, although it says that flights down to 500ft will be permitted for the training of rapid reaction forces. This amounts to about 10% of all low flying training over Germany, which is defined as operations below 1,500ft. Much of the RAF's very low level flying training is now carried out over Canada and the UK.
The RAF has 86 aircraft based in Germany. Laarbruch is the home of 3 and 4 squadrons, equipped with British Aerospace Harrier GR7s, while 6, 9, 17 and 31 Squadrons fly Panavia Tornados from Brüggen.
Source: Flight International
